FAQs about Summit One Vanderbilt

Summit One Vanderbilt is a skyscraper in New York City offering jaw-dropping views. All glass elevators transport you to different levels echoing a unique story.

One SUMMIT Vanderbilt experience in NYC, features an observation deck, skyboxes, and an all-glass elevator complemented by many walk-through art installations to give you a multi-sensory experience.

Yes, Summit One Vanderbilt is absolutely worth it!

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is located at 45 East 42nd Street.

Address: 45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017. Get Directions

Its entrance is on the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal.

Summit One Vanderbilt opens at 9 am and closes at midnight, all through the week. The last entry is at 10.30 pm.

The One Vanderbilt building consists of 93 floors, but Summit (the observation deck) starts on the 91st floor and ends on the 93rd floor.

The journey starts from AIR, which introduces you to a few beautiful spaces: Transcendence 1, Transcendence 2, Reflect, Affinity, and Unity.

Then you take the elevator and move to the next floor, Ascent, and on your way, you can step out of the elevator at Levitation, a glass skybox to thrill you with mind-blowing views.

The last floor is Aprés to indulge in mouth-watering snacks and appetizers.

Summit One Vanderbilt is 1401 ft (427 meters) tall and is the fourth tallest skyscraper in New York.

The best time to visit One Vanderbilt Summit is during sunset, when it lightens up with attractive colors, making it a visual treat.

If you stay long enough, you can also enjoy night views of New York City.

Unfortunately, visiting The Summit at sunrise is impossible because it opens at 9 am daily.

There is no specific minimum age to visit Summit One.

However, tickets are required for everyone visiting, except for children aged five and under, who can visit for free.

Even though the attraction doesn’t have specific dress code, guests must wear appropriate clothing when visiting SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Observation deck is made of glass, and any exposing clothes can make you and other visitors uncomfortable.

We recommend wearing pants, shorts, or tights.

Footwear like Stiletto heels, steel-toe boots, sports cleats, and other footwear can damage the glass floor.

Women tourists should avoid wearing skirts and high heels.

If you are visiting during the day, bring your sunglasses along because it can get very bright.

If you’re visiting SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt for the first time, we recommend you purchase daytime tickets to get a clear view of the city’s skyline.

The attraction is more colorful during the nighttime, but you don’t get to see fascinating views of New York City.

For a romantic outing with your partner, it is better to book the nighttime tickets.

Summit One Vanderbilt experience tickets have no time limit on them. Once inside, you can stay for as long as you want.

However, guests are not allowed to return once they take the elevator to the next floor.

For instance, once you are on the 93rd floor, you’re not permitted to visit 92nd and 91st floors again.

The Summit’s two all-glass elevators, called Ascent, run on the outside of the One Vanderbilt and travel at the speed of 83 feet per minute (25 meters/min).

Outside food and beverages are not allowed beyond the security checkpoint.

Guests can’t drink, eat or smoke once they are inside Observation Deck.

However, the New York attraction offers interesting options at its restaurant called Apres.

The observation deck allows nothing larger than a standard backpack, purse, or messenger bag.

Large suitcases, trunks, wheeled duffel bags, carry-on bags, etc are prohibited. All bags are subject to inspection.

Summit One has restrooms. However, the first available restrooms are not accessible until the visitors reach the first floor, which usually takes 15 to 20 minutes.

The nearest restrooms to the entrance of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt are located in the Grand Central food court.

Photography is allowed at Summit One. However, professional photography is not allowed without prior permission.

There are many great places to take photos at Summit One Vanderbilt. Some of the most popular spots include the outdoor terrace, the indoor observation deck, and the glass elevators.

The Summit’s photo library is managed by its photography partner, Storibox.

After taking your photos at the attraction, the photographers will scan your wristband to associate them with your ticket.

Once your visit ends, you will receive an email with a link to your online photo gallery. Downloading individual photos is free, but images in higher resolution are paid.

No, Summit One Vanderbilt has no official weight limit for visitors. They focus on providing an inclusive and accessible experience for everyone, regardless of body size.

Whether someone with a fear of heights can enjoy the observation deck depends on the severity of their phobia and their willingness to manage it.

If you have milder fear, practicing mindfulness, deep breathing, and focusing on the beautiful New York City views instead of the drop might help manage anxiety.

You can also gradually expose yourself to the sights at your own pace.

“Affinity Room,” also known as the “Mirror Maze with Silver Cloud Installation” at The Summit, is also referred to by tourists as the room of balloons.

Created by artist Kenzo Digital, this immersive space features hundreds of reflective silver balloons bouncing playfully throughout the room.

At Summit One Vanderbilt, Yayoi Kusama designed a large-scale floor-based installation called “Clouds”.

This piece features approximately 90 mirror-finished, stainless-steel forms in various shapes and sizes that resemble clouds.

It provides a unique and Instagrammable backdrop for capturing memories of your visit.

The stairs are closed to guests at all times.

Yes, you can visit the Summit with your baby. However, some areas of the observation deck can be quite loud, which may be overwhelming for a baby.

Also, during peak hours, it can get crowded, making it difficult to navigate with a baby.

Tourists can bring their strollers along. However, they must be able to fold them while accessing the escalators and elevators.

Unfortunately, Summit One Vanderbilt does not offer a coat check service. You can continue to wear your coat during your visit.

Summit One does not offer lockers or luggage storage facilities.

Additionally, the observation deck does not provide storage for jackets, bags, or other personal items, and anything larger than a standard backpack, including luggage or large packages, is not allowed​.

The New York observation is open year-round, including winter, and can be a truly magical experience even during the colder months.

The platform is not crowded during the colder months and offers stunning winter views.

The architect for the One Vanderbilt building itself is Kohn Pedersen Fox, a renowned architectural firm.

However, the Summit One observation deck’s interior spaces and immersive experiences were designed by another architectural firm, Snøhetta.

From the Penn Station, you can reach the Summit One Vanderbilt’s entrance in a five-minute drive.

The observation deck is approximately 0.4 miles (0.7 km) from Times Square. It’s a pleasant 25-minute walk, taking you through bustling streets and landmarks like Bryant Park.

If you don’t want to walk, opt for 42 St-Grand Central subway line from Times Square directly to Grand Central Station (one stop).

Phone number of One Summit Vanderbilt is +1 877-682-1401